Tag Archives: green space

Among the galleries, bars, restaurants and theatre spaces, there is one more thing that is bringing culture to LIC — dance.

Celebrating its 15th season as a company, Dance Entropy came to Long Island City in 2005, creating its first permanent home at Green Space on 24th Street.

To celebrate its anniversary, the nonprofit modern dance company is having a special concert, Skimming the Surface: Fragments of Collective Unconscious, from February 21 through 24.

The show, featuring both previously preformed and debut dances, was choreographed by company founder and artistic director Valerie Green.

“We wanted to celebrate this special milestone in Queens, in our home space,” said Green.

According to Green, the action of Skimming the Surface “centers around a table and 24 knives engaged in precarious acts used to skim the emotional, and physical surface in an attempt to reveal a root life altering moment.”

“I think [the show] will challenge what [people] think dance is,” said Green. “Some of the works are very theatrical. Modern dance has a large spectrum of styles and aesthetics. I think the show will be an interesting opportunity to see different dimensions of the modern dance world.”

Before moving to Long Island City, the dance company was renting rehearsal space in different locations.

Though the company, consisting of nine dancers, now has a permanent space, it still, as it always has, performs and teaches in other places around New York City, the U.S. and the world.

Green Space also provides space for others to hold rehearsals, classes and performances.

Green, who has worked in the New York City dance community for over 17 years, moved to Long Island City along with her company and resided there until recently when she moved to Sunnyside.

“I’ve enjoyed living in Queens the best out of everywhere,” said Green. “I like the neighborhood feel and diversity.”

“[Because I built my business here] I really feel ingrained in the community in multiple ways,” she added.

When her dance company first came to Long Island City, said Green, there wasn’t a place like Dance Entropy that was geared towards professionals.

“I could see in 2005 how western Queens was changing, particularly Long Island City, said Green.

“And I thought that it would be a good place to create a home base and allow for a dance venue and the dance community to grow because there was also a need for it in this area.”

Green said there are more dancers and choreographers living in the neighborhood today, but Green Space is still the main dance venue and rehearsal space in the area.

Although there is an interest in dance from locals, the company is still trying to grow its audience.

“We are trying to get the locals to “realize that there is a venue right in their neighborhood that they can walk to and support and see quality professional dance,” said Green.

On Saturday, August 25, the Department of Transportation (DOT) set up a temporary pedestrian plaza in Astoria, allowing residents to relax, stroll and sample their neighborhood with more open space, after locals expressed mixed feelings about the proposed piazza.

DOT officials set up tables, chairs, umbrellas and planters along the intersection of 30th Avenue and Newtown Avenue. Residents sat at tables, sipping coffee and chatting with friends while enjoying the sunny summer weather.

“I feel like Astoria lacks outdoor spaces where people can sit around,” said local resident Bryan Cronk, who was spotted sitting in the pedestrian plaza. “If it’s kept clean, it could be kind of cool.”

Cronk said he avoids the nearby Athens Square Park — another outdoor space — because of its lack of cleanliness and upkeep.

Passers-by had mixed feelings about the shut-down street, however.

“Is this permanent?” shouted a man walking by, who said he was skeptical of how traffic patterns would be managed in the already somewhat congested area.

“This one-day event provided Astoria residents and visitors the opportunity to experience a plaza in the neighborhood and to see for themselves the benefits that safe, accessible pedestrian space can provide,” said DOT spokesperson Scott Gastel.

Community Board 1 District Manager Lucille Hartmann said the group supported the trial run but could not comment on her opinion of the plaza. She said the possibility of installing a permanent plaza would be discussed during a public hearing on September 11.

The Institute for Rational Mobility, a non-profit group of transit advocates, disapproves of the construction of a greenway along three miles of abandoned railway stretching from Rego Park to Ozone Park. They feel the train tracks, which have remained idle for 50 years, would better serve the community if revived for their original purpose – extended transportation throughout the borough.

George Haikalis, president of the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility, feels the reactivation of the railway does not necessarily mean hindering the creation of a park, suggesting that the two projects can exist simultaneously. Haikalis, who considers himself “a long-time supporter of parks and open space,” compares his vision of a tandem greenway and railway to the layout of the Manhattan Bridge.

“[Officials in charge of designing the project] just have to be thoughtful and creative,” said Haikalis. “It’s not trying to pit one against the other.”

Haikalis alleges the venture requires less work, as several structures are already in place, estimating the undertaking will cost about $500 million. If revived, the railway will run from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Airport.

Assemblymember Philip Goldfeder said he vehemently opposes turning the railway into a park, alleging that the revival of a train to south Queens will benefit a community he calls “severely underserved.” Goldfeder also argued the necessity of an extended transit system if the proposed plan to build a convention center at Aqueduct Racetrack falls into place.

While both Goldfeder and Haikalis are in favor of preserving green space, they feel the railway will best serve the area if restored.

Along an abandoned stretch of railway in Forest Hills, Travis Terry envisioned a park. His dream – open space, a bike trail, paths for pedestrians, trees and grass – is now in the early stages of coming true.

Friends of the QueensWay, a group begun by Terry that advocates for the construction of a park over three miles of deserted train tracks, has partnered with the New York State Trust for Public Land. The groups have entered the preliminary phase of planning a new park.

“I took [the New York State Trust for Public Land] on a tour and showed them all the possibility here,” said Terry. “I think they saw the tremendous opportunity.”

Terry assisted in the creation of Manhattan’s High Line Park, a similar project also built on top of vacant railway. He alleges the QueensWay initiative is something locals have had interest in for some time.

Marc Matsil, New York State Director for the Trust for Public Land, believes the greenway has the potential to connect neighborhoods, running from Rego Park to Ozone Park. He speculates the greenspace will provide a cultural outlet for the already diverse area, and there are plans to establish food carts from local vendors.

Community Board 9 chair Andrea Crawford supports the project, claiming many residents are favorable towards the idea as well.

“There have been a lot of positive responses,” said Crawford. “It’s hard for anyone to say they don’t want more greenspace.”

The Trust for Public Land will conduct a feasibility study on the space in 2012, examining the park’s potential costs, structural issues and security requirements. According to Crawford, no public funds will go towards conducting the research.

“Once we have answers to all these studies, I think those who are skeptical will be on board,” said Crawford.

Crawford called the current state of the projected park’s location “a nuisance” and “dangerous,” claiming the site is littered with old mattresses and empty beer bottles.

“[The park] will help the city be more ‘green’. It has the potential to be a world class park,” said Crawford.

Matsil claims The Trust for Public Land and Friends of the QueensWay are looking to gain involvement from area residents when designing the park, hoping community input creates a space that celebrates Queens culture.

P.S. 173 unveiled a new playground at a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 20 at the school, located at 174-10 67th Avenue in Fresh Meadows. During the ceremony, students performed demonstrations of yoga, music and chess.

The new playground, which took approximately 14 months to build, was designed as a “green space,” and it provides sections for both passive and active recreation. There is also a “Wall of Friendship and Respect,” which was designed with student input.